3.3 - L.E.G.E.N.D

L.E.G.E.N.D. was a disappointing story. The combination of the Brothers Grim and the TARDIS team having an adventure allied with the Eleven should have made for a cracking story. Instead, we get a meandering tale that plods along for at least half of its run time and does little with the great ingridents given to it. There were a few jokes that hit, but many more that missed in a tale that felt like we were spinning our wheels.

With Liv and Helen back with the Doctor, things spiral into the penultimate story as the Eleven guides them to a potential new source of information on how to handle the Ravenous. After the intensity of 'Deeptime' and the continuity-driven power of 'Companion', "L.E.G.E.N.D."  is a quieter story that takes time to deconstruct some of the ideas behind fairy tale stories. The appearance of the Brothers Grimm and their sci-fi equivalent in a professor researching myths and fables throughout the universe really hammer the nature of those themes home and they bring with them a strong atmosphere that allows for plenty of time to catch your breath. But the slower direction, tone, and pacing make this one feel much more like a standard Doctor Who story than the previous two and the plot while interesting isn't quite as up to snuff either.

It's a standard scenario of a computer wanting to take over and influence the world around it combined with a misunderstood meaning and some quirky magical side effects to make it all work. The cast is good with McGann, Walker, Morahan, and Bonnar all providing fine performances as they are split up in various directions over the course of the narrative. The Doctor and the Eleven's storyline is the best by far as they are forced to work together and contend with the machine and its influences directly. But Liv and Helen are both given some fun developments and side cast interactions to bounce conversations and dialogue off of that feel very organic and appropriate to who they've been built up to be. Arthur Hughes plays a strong Wilhelm Grimm and Tanya Moodie is fine as the professor Marathanga but there isn't too much that distinguishes them from other Who characters beyond their importance in the narrative.

It all coalesces together rather predictably with no real fireworks outside of a glass explosion and a very quick send off into the final part that feels rushed but works OK. As a story by itself, "L.E.G.E.N.D." isn't boring and there are plenty of good ideas and interactions to enjoy it as a standalone story. But compared to its predecessors in the set, it does feel like a bit of a comedown in terms of energy and scale and is probably the weakest of the set. It's fine especially if you are in a fantasy mood but it's not the greatest way to hype listeners up for the coming finale.

The eleven joins the tardis crew in this story and they set off to find a scientist called marathanga who specialises in myths and legends who might give them important information on how to defeat the ravenous. The tardis crew arrive in the 19th century looking for marathanga and encounter the brothers girimm who marathanga is researching.

Its interesting to have the eleven join the tardis crew and of course nobody trusts him, especially liv which always leads to some funny lines between her and the eleven. The brothers were also a nice addition to the story although wilhelm is the only one that we spend much time with but he is an interesting character and he has some good scenes with helen.

The main plot is about this substance called plasm which can take the shape and form of any organic matter which was created by marathanga. Marathangas' computer has went mad and is using the plasm to try and make fairy tales come true as it believes that fairy tales are how the world should be. I thought the plasm was a bit of a macguffin substance that could do anything the plot needed it to but i liked the idea of a computer trying to make fantasys real. The ending was a bit rushed but overall L.E.G.E.N.D is still a pretty decent story